Beshalach

📜 The Story

Pharaoh has finally let the Israelites go. The shortest way to the Land of Israel passes through land where they might have to fight, so God leads them on a longer path through the desert. He does not want them to get scared and turn back. During the day God guides them with a pillar of cloud, and at night with a pillar of fire, so they always know which way to go.

Then Pharaoh changes his mind again. He chases the Israelites with his army and chariots. The people are trapped between the Egyptian army and the Sea of Reeds. God tells Moses to raise his staff, and the sea splits into two walls of water with dry land in the middle. The Israelites walk safely across. When the Egyptians follow them in, the water comes crashing back down on them.

After this great miracle, Moses and the people sing a song of thanks to God. It is called Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea. Moses' sister Miriam takes a tambourine and leads the women in singing and dancing.

The people walk on into the desert, and soon there are problems. At Marah the water is too bitter to drink. Moses throws a piece of wood into it, and God makes it sweet. Then the people get hungry. God sends manna from the sky every morning and quail in the evening. On Friday a double portion of manna falls, and on Shabbat (the Sabbath) none falls at all. This teaches the people to rest on Shabbat.

Near the end of the parsha, the nation of Amalek attacks the Israelites at Rephidim. Joshua leads the fighters below, and Moses stands on a hill with his hands raised. Aaron and Hur help hold his hands up. As long as Moses' hands are up, the Israelites win. After the battle, Moses builds an altar and calls it 'God Is My Banner' to thank God for the victory.